Page:Famous Living Americans, with Portraits.djvu/374

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JOHN B. MUBPHY 351 characteristics of all his recommendations in other lines — Bunplicity. No man has rendered direct surgical service to more people than has Dr. Murphy. In this service he has displayed com- mon sense, mechanical genius, good judgment, knowledge of his science, technical skill, surgical sense, executive ability, courage, and daring. Because of these qualities he has been for forty years one of America's busiest surgeons. The esteem of his fellow men could well be rested on the basis of this ser- vice. In making up an estimate of Dr. Murphy, however, much more must be put to his credit. He has had a unique part in changing the surgery of forty years ago into the surgery of to- day, in the development of new surgical fields, in the broad- ening of the influence of the hospital, in the multiplication of surgeons in small commxmities, and in the promotion of hu- man efficiency through surgery. Largely through his influ- ence surgery has been made available for all those who have needed it. He has made it democratic. He has visioned the future and, having seen, has led botii his profession and the people into the new ways. He has weighed conditions with careful judgment and, having determined the natural next step, he has had the courage required to make the advance. John Benjamin Murphy was bom in Appleton, Wis., Dec "^ 21, 1857, the son of Michael and Ann (Grimes) Murphy. He ^ studied in the public schools of Appleton, graduating from the ^ high school. As a youth John B. Murphy worked on his father's farm. Much of his tireless energy, endurance, and physical strength can be attributed to the outdoor work of that period of his life. He began the study of medicine under Dr. John B. Beilly of Appleton, as preceptor. Graduating with the degree of M. D. from Bush Medical College in 1879, he entered at once on his service as interne at Cook County Hospital and re- ceived his certificate from the Hospital in 1880. ^ In the same year Dr. Murphy began the practice of medi- cine and surgery associated with Dr. Edward W. Lee, one of -^ the attending surgeons at Cook County Hospital. From Sep-